Electrical conductor connector



Aug. 28, 1951 D. P. SHAPPEL'L. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 4, 1945.

Patented Aug. 28, 1951 2a uj a ELECTRICAL ooNDUc'ron-conm ron Dallas Shappfilbjlllilwaulieei assign or to McGmW l t c P rn a. ene ate? Delajw'are ApplicationOctober 1, 1945, Serial No. 620,313

'Thi s invention relates to electrical connectors of the type in which a slottedorbifurcated bolt lieceiyes the conductors to be connectedand in W h a plunger or head slides in the slot ofthe bo ndis forced into binding engagement with on the conductors to thus tightly clamp th e 0'9 uctors together and to adjacent parts of the o ee orprovided which are automatically drawn into the slot of the bifurcated bolt and slightly spread the arms thereof, whenthenut is tightened, to thus lock the nut against loosening/1" An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figur 1 is a sectional view "through the connectoi ffshown in position clamping two conductors together and against adjacent parts'oftthe connector, the sliding head being shownin full except for a small portion thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 with the nut shown in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the connector comprises a threaded and slotted bolt I having a pair of spaced arms 2. A nut 3 is screwed on the bolt and is arranged to force a head or sliding plunger, indicated generally by the reference character 4, into binding engagement with one of the conductors 5 to thus clamp such conductor against the conductor 6 and clamp both conductors against the adjacent portions of the connector.

The sliding plunger 4 is a stamping and is stamped from flat stock. It is provided with a transverse portion 1 which may be slightly dished or channelled as shown in Figures 1 and 2, which is arranged to engage the conductor 5, and with outwardly extending looped portions 8 which, as may be seen from Figure 4, are wider than the slot in the bolt and prevent lateral displacement of the sliding head or plunger. From the looped Qb jectsof this invention are to provide a slotportions 8, arms 9 extend inwardly and length;-

wiseof the slot: in the bolt and terminatein out; wardly projecting cam portions I0, each of which has slanting cam surfaces on opposite sides thereofasindicated at ll. These cam portions I!) are slightly less; in width at their inner ends than the slot in the boltand gradually widen asth eir outer endsare approached so that their outer portions are slightly wider than the slot inth' bolt; Thes'e cam portions" Hl'are also angularly bent outwardly and slightly overlap the nu s so; that theriut is loosely held betweenthe portions ajhdm.

"The sliding head or plunger 4 is made of resll ient metalsdasto allow a certain relative motion of its parts when the nut 3 is tightenedas willa pear'heremarter: a

the nut 3 is tightened it bears with con: le pressureagainst the outerparts of the. 16 pt portions sans slightly closes the inwardly tedj endsthereof. This causes the arms"; cl; inwardly and draws theg'radually tap'ered"cam portions l0 inwardly, thus slightly spreading thearms 2,0f'th bolt apart. This not only neutralizes any tendency'for' the arms 2 to riioye towards'each'other d'ue to the reaction of the lthreads ofthe hon and the threads or t nut; but,j as stated, actually spreads 'the'arm's apartftt slight amount. 'Ijhis outwardjspreadin of dreams 2 of" thebolt causesthe arms to lock the nut 3 against inadvertent unscrewing.

By properly proportioning th parts and by selecting the desired angle of slant for the cam faces H of the cam portions [0 any desired degree of pressure can be exerted on the arms 2 of the bolt to thus secure the exact degree of interlocking desired between the spread arms of the bolt and the nut.

A further advantage is taken of the resilient nature of the plunger or sliding head 4. The looped portions 8 thereof provide a considerable amount of spring or yield. Thus it is apparent that when the nut is tightened, the portions 8 yield and hold the conductors 5 and 6 in contact with each other in a yielding manner. This is particularly advantageous because it has been found that where there is relative motion between the conductors due to vibration, swinging or other movement to which the conductors are frequently subjected, there is a considerable amount of wear after a length of time, It has been found that with non-yielding connectors it frequently happens that the conductors, after being subjected to extended wear, are not held in the proper intimate contact with each other.

This defect is wholly overcome by this invention as the plunger 4 due to its yielding nature maintains the conductors in intimate, firm contact with each other at all times although wear may have occurred.

It will be seen that a novel form of electrical connector has been provided by this invention, which is of very simple construction, which can be easily produced, and which can be most easily applied to the ccnductcrs.

"It is 'to be particularly noted that this inven-- tion provides a novel form of sliding head or ,plunger for the connector, which in addition to acting init's usual capacity to clamp the conductior's also coacts with the nut and arms of the bolt to securely lock the nut on the bolt against inadvertent loosening.

,7 "Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising a slotted bolt having a pair of spaced arms adapted to receive conductors therebetween, a sliding head adapted to slide in the slot of said bolt, said head having movable cam means arranged to laterally enter the slot of said bolt, and a nut screwed on said bolt and arranged to force said head inwardly to cause binding of said conductors, said nut being'arranged to force said cam means laterally between the arms of said bolt to force said arms apart and cause binding interlocking between said arms and said nut.

2. A connector for connecting electrical conductors comprising a slotted and threaded bolt having a pair of spaced arms adapted to receive conductors ther'ebetween, a sliding head slidable between said arms, and a threaded nut coacting with said bolt to force said head into binding relation to said conductors, said head having a transverse portion extending between said arms and having outwardly located looped portions continuing as a pair of arms provided with cam portions arranged to laterally enter the slot of said bolt, said nut when screwed tightly against said head causing said looped portions to slightly yield and causing said cam portions to "idg longitudinally of said bolt and located Within the slot of-sajid bolt, the arms of said head having gradually tapered cam portions at their ends arranged to be moved laterally inwardly of the slot of said bolt, and a threaded nut coacting with said bolt and bearing upon said sliding head adjacent said looped portions to force said head into binding relation to said conductors and to cause the arms of said head to rock inwardly to draw said cam portions into the slot of said bolt to spread the arms of said bolt to thereby lock said nut against unscrewing.

4. A connector for connecting electrical conductors comprising a slotted and threaded bolt having a pair of spaced arms adapted to receive conductors therebetween, a sliding head having a transverse portion located in the slot of said bolt and having a pair of arms, arranged to be moved with respect to said transverse portion, the arms of said head having cam portions arranged to move laterally into the slot of said bolt, and a threaded nut coacting with said bolt for forcing said transverse portion into binding relation to said conductors and for moving the arms of said head to force said cam portions laterally in between the arms of said bolt to spread the arms of said bolt to thereby lock said nut against unscrewing.

' DALLAS P. SHAPPELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

